Product Description

The holidays are a great family time, but also a very poignant reminder if a family member has passed away during the year. Move toward healing this Christmas with suggestions and traditions that honor your loved one and also bring joy back into the season.

Product Information

Format: DRM Protected ePubVendor: Baker BooksPublication Date: 2001

ISBN: 9781585582020ISBN-13: 9781585582020Availability: In Stock

Publisher's Description

Losing a loved one--whether a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or friend--leaves people feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. Holidays and other special occasions seem to intensify the pain. Whether the occasion is Christmas or Easter, a birthday or anniversary, these celebrations force the bereaved to again face the reality of a loved one's absence.

Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge and Robert C. De Vries know firsthand the sorrow of bereavement: Both lost a spouse. Yet as they faced their pain and gleaned insights from their professions--Susan is a psychologist, Robert, a minister--they found renewed richness on special days that once brought heartache.

In The Empty Chair, the authors share a comforting blend of emotional support, spiritual guidance, and personal experience to help readers honor their loved one on important days. Those who support the bereaved--mental-health professionals, pastors, funeral home staff, and others--will also appreciate this book for its reflective yet practical approach.

Author Bio

Susan J. Zonnebelt-Smeenge (R.N., Ed.D.) is a clinical psychologist at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. Robert C. De Vries (D.Min, Ph.D.) is professor of church education at Calvin Theological Seminary. They live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Order was filled quickly and the book arrived in fine shape. Seems appropriate to give to someone with a recent loss of a loved one. For now, I plan to keep it for myself as a reference to use personally and perhaps to share certain points with others.

I bought this book for myself five years ago after the death of my husband. It was one of the best books on losing your spouse and the grief you feel...It also gave much insight into the coming holidays and the empty chair readings we all did as a family the first Christmas he was not with us and although it was hard to get through it also helped to heal us.......I just bought another one and sent it to my sister, who lost her husband a month ago and pray it will help to heal her and anyone who reads it. I would recomend this to anyone who is grieving.....